Device and method of vaping cessation

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a device and method for cessation of vaping. The device utilizes a method which allows a user to set a specific number of inhalations of a habit forming substance over a set time period. The method can gradually reduce the number of inhalations the user takes, assisting the user in reducing intake of the habit forming substance.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/256,269, filed on Oct. 15, 2021, and entitled “DEVICE AND METHOD OF VAPING CESSATION,” the complete disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a device and method of vaping cessation which aids a user in ceasing an addiction to a habit-forming substance. Inhalations allowed by the user in a particular time period decrease, and the user is locked into an inhalation plan such that the user cannot circumvent the method of vaping cessation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a method of vaping cessation; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top view of a vaping device used in the method of vaping cessation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although this disclosure refers to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the subject matter set forth in the accompanying claims.

According to the present disclosure, a vaping cessation method 10 is provided using a vaping device 12, see FIG. 2 , to aid a user in ceasing an addiction to a habit-forming substance, such as nicotine. According to method 10, vaping device 12 limits the number of inhalations (i.e. puffs, hits, etc.) the user may take from vaping device 12 during a time period, such as one day. Once the inhalation number is exhausted for the time period, method 10 blocks vaping device 12 from allowing additional inhalations during the remainder of the time period. Within this time period, method 10 also restricts the frequency at which the user can take inhalations from vaping device 12 by blocking vaping device 12 for a predetermined time interval between inhalations. For example, if the user takes an inhalation, method 10 may block the user from taking an additional inhalation for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes has expired, method 10 allows the user to take another inhalation from vaping device 12 as long as the user has not exhausted the remaining permitted inhalations during the time period (e.g. 24 hours). At the end of the time period, a new time period begins, permitting the same or a different, most likely fewer number of inhalations during the new time period. During this new time period, limits are also placed on the frequency of the inhalations. The cycle of new time periods continues until the overall, useful lifespan of vaping device 12 ends.

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically vaping cessation method 10. Method 10 begins at a start step 14, activated by pushing a button (not shown), activating battery 50, taking an inhalation, etc. Once started, initial set-up step 16 occurs by setting an initial value for the remaining inhalation number for the first time period of vaping device 12. For example, the remaining initial inhalation number for the first time period may be set at 100 so that a user may take up to 100 inhalations on vaping device 12 during the first time period, which according to the preferred embodiment is 24 hours (i.e. 100 inhalations are permitted during the first day). In other embodiments, the first time period may be other times, such as 48 hours, 36 hours, 14 hours, 8 hours, 6 hours, 4 hours, 1 hour, etc. In additional embodiments, the first time period is set by a random number generator. In other embodiments, the user may set the initial value for the remaining inhalation number and a duration for the first time period before the first time period begins. In other embodiments, the predetermined time interval and the number inhalations per time period can be determined by the user's existing vaping habit. In other embodiments, the predetermined time interval and the number inhalations per time period can be determined by the user's a baseline period of use of vaping device 12.

After set-up step 16, method 10 progresses to useful-life decision step 18 to determine whether the permitted useful-life of vaping device 12 has expired. For example, vaping device 12 may have a useful life of 28 days (i.e. four weeks). If the useful-life is determined to be over, method 10 proceeds to end step 20 and vaping device 12 is permanently disabled so that no more inhalations including therapeutically effective amounts of the habit-forming substance can be taken. Thus, according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, vaping device 12 cannot be reset or enabled to permit a user to continue using vaping device 12 after the predetermined useful life has expired even though vaping device 12 may still contain the habit-forming substance or be reloaded with the habit-forming substance. According to another embodiment, vaping device 12 is not permanently disabled.

For each time period (e.g. day), a predetermined number of permitted inhalations for each time period may be set by a programmed schedule. For example, days 1-7 may permit 100 inhalations, days 8-14 may permit 75 inhalations, days 9-21 may permit 50 inhalations, and days 22-28 may permit 25 inhalations. Other schedules, such as daily decreases in the number of inhalations may also be scheduled for longer or shorter useful life periods, such as 8 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 weeks, 2 weeks, 1 week, etc. Thus, for each time period during the useful life of vaping device 12, an initial value is set for a number of inhalations greater than zero.

If at useful-life decision step 18 the useful life is determined to be greater than zero (i.e. the useful life has not been exhausted), then method 10 progresses to a remaining inhalation number decision step 22. At remaining inhalation number decision step 22, method 10 determines whether the remaining inhalation number is zero. According to one embodiment, method 10 determines whether a predetermined inhalation blocking number has been reached. The predetermined inhalation blocking number is equivalent to the initial value for the remaining inhalation number that was set at the start of the time period. If the predetermined inhalation blocking number has been met, meaning the remaining inhalation number is zero, then method 10 proceeds to blocking step 24.

At blocking step 24, method 10 blocks vaping device 12 from permitting more therapeutically effective inhalations of the habit-forming substance for the remainder of the first time period and the user is blocked from overriding the block. After blocking step 24, resetting initial value step 26 occurs based on the schedule discussed above. For example, on the second time period (e.g. second day of use), resetting initial value step 26 may reset the initial value at 100.

If the predetermined inhalation blocking number has not been met yet, meaning the remaining inhalation number is greater than zero, then method 10 proceeds to inhalation step 28. During this step 28, the user is allowed to take an inhalation from vaping device 12. The user inhales on vaping device 12, sensor 56 and processor 48 detect the inhalation (e.g. by sensing negative air pressure), and coil 58 is heated to vaporize the habit-forming substance. Upon detection of an inhalation by sensor 56 (or a pressing of a button, etc.), method 10 proceeds to blocking step 30, blocking vaping device 12 from releasing a therapeutically effective amount of habit-forming substance. Vaping device 12 may be blocked by closing a valve (not shown), disabling a pump (not shown), disabling coil 58, etc.

Next, method 10 proceeds to wait/predetermined time interval step 32. After the user takes the inhalation of the habit-forming substance, method 10 also proceeds to time interval reset step 34 and the predetermined time interval is reset to control the frequency at which a user may inhale the habit-forming substance. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined time interval is 3 minutes. In additional embodiments, the predetermined time interval is 1 minute, 2 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc. In other embodiments, the predetermined time interval is set by a random number generator. In another embodiment, the user may set the length of the predetermined time interval before the first time period begins. At predetermined time interval step 34, method 10 allows the predetermined time interval (e.g. 3 minutes) to expire. During this step 34, vaping device 12 continues to block the user from taking another therapeutically effective amount (e.g. zero) of the habit-forming substance.

At reducing step 36, the remaining inhalation number in the first time period is reduced by one. For example, if the remaining inhalation number for the first time period was initially 100, reducing step 36 reduces the number to 99, indicating that 99 more inhalations may be taken during the first time period. If the user does not take the inhalation of the habit-forming substance, the remaining inhalation number remains the same. After the remaining inhalation number is reduced by one in reducing step 36, method 10 loops back to device useful-life decision step 18.

At useful-life decision step 18, method 10 again determines whether the useful life has expired. The user continues this cycle of permitted inhalations of the habit-forming substance and blocked predetermined time intervals/frequency until the remaining inhalation number is zero. Once method 10 determines that the remaining inhalation number is zero at decision step 22, vaping device 12 is blocked for the remainder of the first time period at blocking step 24. If permitted inhalations remain at the end of a time period, they may expire (i.e. not be carried over to the next time period) or the remaining permitted inhalations may be carried over to the next time period.

After the first time period ends, the second time period begins. In some embodiments, the second time period begins at the end of the first time period. In some embodiments, the second time period is 24 hours. In other embodiments, the second time period, may be other times, such as 48 hours, 36 hours, 14 hours, 8 hours, 6 hours, 4 hours, 1 hour, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the first time period and the second time period contain the same amount of time (i.e. 24 hours). In another embodiment, the second time period is set by a random number generator.

After blocking step 24 ends at, the completion of the time period, method 10 proceeds to resetting initial value step 26 where the initial value for the remaining inhalation number is reset for the second time period according to a schedule as discussed above. The remaining inhalation number for the second time period may be less than or equal to the initial value for the remaining inhalation number for the first time period. In one embodiment, the initial value for the remaining inhalation number (e.g. 100) for the second time period is equivalent to the initial value for the remaining inhalation number (e.g. 100) for the first time period. In another embodiment, the initial value for the remaining inhalation number (e.g. 90) for the second time period is less than the initial value for the remaining inhalation number (e.g. 100) for the first time period. In some embodiments, the user may set the initial value for the remaining inhalation number and a duration for the second time period before the first time period begins. In another embodiment, the user may set how the initial value for the remaining inhalation number decreases after each time period expires. The initial value for the remaining inhalation number is equivalent to the predetermined inhalation blocking number for each time period.

At the beginning of the second time period, method 10 unblocks vaping device 12 and the user is permitted to take inhalations of the habit-forming substance again. The inhalation and reducing steps discussed in relation to FIG. 1 continue to occur during the second time period. When the user takes the inhalation of the habit-forming substance, the remaining inhalation number for the second time period is reduced by one, as in FIG. 1 . Vaping device 12 is blocked from permitting inhalations of the habit-forming substance during the predetermined time interval/frequency after each inhalation of the habit-forming substance, as in FIG. 1 . The user may continue this cycle of permitted inhalations and blocked predetermined time intervals until the remaining inhalation number reaches zero and the second time period expires. If the remaining inhalation number for the second time period reaches zero, meaning the predetermined inhalation blocking number has been met, then the user is blocked from taking inhalations of the habit-forming substance for the remainder of the second time period. Then a third time period begins, and the process steps repeat. The initial value for the remaining inhalation number and the predetermined inhalation blocking number decrease as the user reaches more successive time periods. Eventually, vaping device 12 reaches the end of its useful life at end step 20. At this point, vaping device 12 is no longer useful even though it may continue to include useful amounts of habit-forming substance.

In FIG. 2 , vaping device 12 is shown. Vaping device 12 includes a mouthpiece 44, a housing 46, a processor/controller 48, a battery 50, a display 52, a habit-forming substance cartridge 54, and sensor 56 in communication with processor 48 that detects an inhalation by detecting inhalation pressure, a change in weight/volume of cartridge 54, etc. Sensor 56 may also be a button (not shown) that is pressed to activate coil 58. Mouthpiece 44 is used by the user to take the inhalation of the habit-forming substance. Housing 46 contains processor 48, battery 50, display 52, and the habit-forming substance cartridge 54. Processor 48 controls vaping cessation method 10. Battery 50 powers vaping device processor 48 and the other electrical components of vaping device 12. Display 52 may show various features. For example, display 52 may show the time left in a tune period, like 19 h 03 m, as shown in FIG. 2 . Display 52 may also show the time left in the predetermined time interval, like 2 m 38 s, as shown in FIG. 2 . Likewise, the display 52 may also show the remaining inhalation number for the time period, as shown in FIG. 2 . Display 52 may also display a symbol (not shown), like a lock or a phrase, among others, to indicate that vaping device 12 is blocked. Habit-forming substance cartridge 54 holds the habit-forming substance. 

1. A method for vaping cessation including: providing a vaping device configured to provide inhalations; inhaling a habit-forming substance using the vaping device; blocking the vaping device from permitting therapeutically effective inhalations of the habit-forming substance for a predetermined time interval, the predetermined time interval being after the inhaling step; and allowing the vaping device to permit inhalations of the habit-forming substance after the predetermined time interval has elapsed.
 2. The method of claim 1, further including displaying a symbol on the vaping device during the predetermined time interval.
 3. The method of claim 1, further including displaying a time left in the predetermined time interval.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time interval is based upon the extent of a user's existing vaping habit.
 5. A method for vaping cessation including: providing a vaping device configured to provide inhalations, the vaping device having a remaining inhalation number of allowed inhalations over a first time period, the remaining inhalation number having an initial value: inhaling a habit-forming substance using the vaping device; reducing the remaining inhalation number in response to the inhaling step; repeating the inhaling and reducing steps until the remaining inhalation number reaches a predetermined inhalation blocking number; blocking the vaping device from permitting therapeutically effective inhalations of the habit-forming substance after the remaining inhalation number reaches the predetermined inhalation blocking number during the first time period; effectively blocking a user from overriding the blocking step during the first time period; setting the remaining inhalation number to less than the initial value; unblocking the vaping device after the first time period expires; and repeating the inhaling and reducing steps after the unblocking step.
 6. The method of claim 5, further including displaying a symbol on the vaping device when the remaining inhalation number reaches the predetermined inhalation blocking number.
 7. The method of claim 5, further including displaying a remaining time in the first time period on the vaping device.
 8. The method of claim 5, further including inhibiting the user from reusing the vaping device once the predetermined inhalation blocking number reaches zero.
 9. The method of claim 5, further including defining the first time period, to be equal to a second time period.
 10. The method of claim 5, further including displaying the remaining inhalation number in the first time period on the vaping device.
 11. The method of claim 5, further including decreasing the remaining inhalation number displayed on the vaping device after the user takes the inhalation.
 12. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined time interval is based upon the extent of a user's existing vaping habit.
 13. A vaping device configured to provide inhalations, the vaping device including: a device body configured to store a habit-forming substance deliverable to a user, and a controller supported by the device body, the controller being configured to block inhalations of the habit-forming substance for a predetermined time interval and permit inhalations of the habit-forming substance after the predetermined time interval has elapsed.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the predetermined time interval is based upon the extent of a user's existing vaping habit.
 15. The device of claim 13, wherein the predetermined time interval is based upon the user's baseline period of use of the device. 